RCL 614:  My Kind of Karaoke
By Trifee Miaco

It is Friday after 5pm. Ah finally! Time to escape from the thoughts of a stressful week of work! And what better things to do? And what better place to go?

I have been to many nightspots in downtown Toronto and Mississauga and I guess I have not been lucky yet to find a place to go to over and over. First, it is expensive, second, hard to find parking, third, you don’t know the people, and lastly, I always have this feeling of danger.

Excitement comes as I arrive at the Friday Night’s Karaoke at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 614.  Strategically located at the heart of the city of Scarborough, Ontario, near southwest of Brimley and Sheppard, this is one place I have been going to for the past several years. My reasons are quite simple:  there is ample space for free parking, the music is great, there are tons of karaoke songs to choose from, DJ Carlo and his lovely wife Anita are just some of the many nice and friendly personalities in the place, there is enough dancing space in the hall, almost everyone sings good if not better, but most of all… it is one place where people can have fun singing, dancing, drinking a beer or two, or play pool while waiting for his turn to sing and yet, people treat each other with respect and dignity.

And there goes Louise singing That’s Amore! Gerry D has a Johnny Mathis song to listeners’ delight.  Now, someone is singing Aching Breaking Heart and I see the ladies doing line dancing. Gerry O is just right for another Sinatra song. Step aside Neil Young, I like Marty’s version of Harvest Moon. A number of guys and gals have been singing country songs and that’s great!  Well, well, well… DJ Carlo sings an Enrique Iglesias and everybody is Bailamos! Fast dancing continues with songs from Josie, Anita, Irma, and myself.  Shake it with this disco beat! Now, let’s tune down to a soft love song. The lights get dim please and the dancers are in romantic mood again.

With over 40 singers in queue from 8pm to 1am, I don’t expect to be able to sing more than two songs. But hey, it’s okay! What is important is that my wife and I had a great night at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 614 Friday Night’s Karaoke!